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Land of the Free: Sampling in the Bay Area Land of the Free: Sampling in the Bay Area RSS

By Sarah Levy, Contributor

Photo courtesy Ghirardelli
Photo courtesy Ghirardelli
Whoever said there is no such thing as a free lunch never visited San Francisco. Between all of the shops, factories and markets handing out free tastes, there is a well-balanced feast just waiting to be devoured--one tiny bite at a time. Keep these places in mind for those moments when your blood sugar is running as low as your cash flow.
On This Page: Beverages, Sweets, Bakeries and Markets

Beverages

Drink up, and save your money for the cab ride home.

  1. Anchor Brewing Company

    1705 Mariposa St, San Francisco, CA
    Reserve a spot on the free brewhouse tour, and then enjoy a tasting menu of six or seven classic microbrews.

  2. Lupicia Tea

    865 Market St. Suite 255, San Francisco, CA
    Hot and iced samples of seasonal and hand-blended teas are a welcome respite from mall madness.

  3. Pyramid Ale House, Brewery and Restaurant

    901 Gilman St, Berkeley, CA
    Pyramid's free brewery tour wraps up with generous samples of house-made brewski and Thomas Kemper Soda.

  4. Takara Sake USA INC

    708 Addison St, Berkeley, CA
    Move beyond the sake bomb, and learn to tell your Junmai from your Ginjo while sipping six different varieties in this comprehensive tasting.

Sweets

The only thing better than a sugar high is one that you get for free.

  1. The Candy Store

    1507 Vallejo St, San Francisco, CA
    The owners are happy to offer samples of almost anything in the store, which is helpful when deciding between nostalgic classics and exotic treats like banana curry chocolate bars.

  2. Chocolate Covered

    4069 24TH St, San Francisco, CA
    It would be cruel to prohibit tasting at this shop, which intrigues with sweets like the milk-chocolate bar with ... bacon.

  3. Ghirardelli Soda Fountain and Chocolate Shop

    900 N Point St Ste 52, San Francisco, CA
    Skip the soda fountain line and step into the chocolate shop for a free filled-chocolate square. Eat fast--the unwrapped squares tend to melt in transit.

  4. Moonstruck Chocolate Cafe

    2109 Chestnut St, San Francisco, CA
    Free truffles are a nice mid-shop pick-me-up and the best way to discover your new favorite flavor.

  5. San Francisco Chocolate Factory

    286 12th St, San Francisco, CA
    Copious chocolate samples make SoMa a little sweeter.

  6. Scharffen Berger Chocolate Factory

    914 Heinz Ave, Berkeley, CA
    It's easy to sit through a lecture when your teacher is plying you with artisan chocolate--and you're looking forward to more free samples in the gift shop.

  7. Z Cioccolato

    474 Columbus Ave, San Francisco, CA
    Staff lure innocent bystanders with free fudge samples and then encourage gorging on barrels of taffy.

Bakeries and Markets

Free food doesn't necessarily mean junk food, as these shops can attest.

  1. Bay Bread Boulangerie

    2325 Pine St, San Francisco, CA
    Much quicker than flying, buttery bites of pastry at the Boulangerie counter carry you instantly to France.

  2. Bi-Rite Market

    3639 18th St, San Francisco, CA
    Become a produce expert nibbling a rainbow of sustainably-grown fruits and veggies.

  3. Ferry Plaza Farmers' Market

    Market St and The Embarcadero, San Francisco, CA
    It's customary to skip breakfast before filling up on bite-sized chunks of California-grown produce, cheese, olive oil, jam, and more. (Remember to use a toothpick, please.)

  4. Golden Gate Fortune Cookie Company

    56 Ross Aly, San Francisco, CA
    It is the destiny of botched cookies to go straight into the sampling tin at this teeny-tiny Chinatown factory.

  5. Patisserie Philippe

    655 Townsend St, San Francisco, CA
    Samples run large at Patisserie Philippe, but one taste of their delicate cookies, cakes or tarts may not be enough.

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